My Gahtering of Poetry Plus Memories by Billy O. Rowland

I write some Country Poetry.
I follow the Cowboy ways.
I record my thoughts in verse.
To express what I want to say.

I'm no longer a cowboy now, but,
I sure do like their style,
Of poetry, living and ways that is,
Let me entertain you for awhile.

Now I am an old man and totally retired, but
I have a lot of memories both good and bad,
Of being born and raised out on a ranch,
The guy that drove us hard, that was my Dad.

It seemed like we worked from daylight till dark,
And the chores had to be done both morning and night.
The cows had to be milked and livestock all fed.
Dad was a hard task master, it had to be done right.

Many times I thought it was a hard way to live,
But as I look back over all of these hard times,
The lessons I learned from living on the ranch,
Have served me well on many of my toughest climbs.

Now I can sit back and appreciate my Dad's drive,
He was just trying to make an all around man out of me.
In the latter years of my life, I could do almost anything.
At the time it was happening, this was hard for me to see.

Now, I can sit back and enjoy some of these memories,
While sitting in my easy chair and thinking good thoughts.
I will always be thankful I was born and raised on a ranch,
And for all of the comforts this hard work has brought us.

A Mean Banty Rooster  by Billy O. Rowland

I met my first Banty Rooster, I was just a curious young kid,
We went over to the visit the Rice Family, When I done what I shouldn't oughta-did.
I was out looking over the out buildings, Just being a litle bit snoopy.
I worked my way to the chicken house, And learned that rooster was spooky.
I was admiring the way the roosts were made, Only one way for me to get out.
He strutted into the house from the chicken yard, Just to see what I was about.
Well, he was between me and the only door, And I was invading his space.
He made it very plain and showed me his spurs, So I'd understand this was the case.
He was making a lot of noise and squaking, The feathers stood oout on his neck.
I started hollering real loud for my Dad, Thank God he finally heard me.
Mr Rice and my Dad were laughing so hard, I begged them to let me free.
I gained a lot of respect that day, Althought it wasn't a morale booster.
Tough guys come in all different sizes, Even that little black and red Banty Rooster.

Looking At A Horseshoe  By Billy O. Rowland
This city dude was watching the cowboy, While he was shoeing his horse,
He had reached the point in this chore, He was fitting the shoe of course.
He was heating the shoe in the blacksmiths forge, Then shaping it on his anvil.
Then he laid it aside to cool a bit, When the dude was tempted by the devil.
He reached down and picked up the hot shoe, The cowboy had just laid aside.
Faster than he picked it up he dropped it, Cause you see it burnt his hide.
The cowboy slowly looked around and , Questioned him "hot shoe"?
The city dude said, "Nope, it just doesn't take me long to look at a horseshoe."

Train carved from one 2x4 with loose balls in each car

Train with carved balls in each car, out of one solid 2x4

Overview of Clarkdale Arizona and Tip of San Francisco Peaks tiny white spot

New Addition to Old Clarkdale